Chapter 156

As Li Lan began to speak, brain fog instantly formed in Li Chuiyuan's mind. It was gradually covering his memory and perception, pulling him into that specific past scenario.

Li Chuiyuan understood this. Although the Dream Ghost was in a state of panic and unease, and was gradually losing control over this place, for now, a dream was still a dream. Before its main framework collapsed, it would still operate according to its predetermined processes.

However, Li Chuiyuan disliked this "gradual" process. He could feel a force obscuring his memories. This gave him the feeling that his intelligence was being openly insulted. Since this memory overlay was irreversible, he would have preferred a more imperceptible method. Otherwise, it would be better to simply raise a dust cloud or strike with lightning, instantly shifting the scene and allowing him to be directly immersed.

But then, a thought struck him. Li Chuiyuan suddenly realized a contradiction: before the Dream Ghost pulled him back into the small pickup truck to listen to the radio and act as a guest commentator, he should have been pulled into the dream many times already.

Logically, he should have had many of his sharp edges worn down, and at least regarding such dreams, he should have gradually grown to accept and become numb to them. How could it be that upon re-entering the dream, it still took so long to set up his sense of immersion?

So, Dream Ghost, what exactly were you doing before this?

The brain fog was steadily forming. There were things Li Chuiyuan could no longer recall. He could only think as much as possible within the limited time, even if it was just through habitual thinking.

This shouldn't be happening.

Li Chuiyuan admitted that his mental fortitude far surpassed his companions. But he wouldn't assume that these attributes alone would make him so distinct in this dream. Any phenomenon contrary to common sense must have at least one objective contributing factor.

Li Chuiyuan quickly replayed the Dream Ghost's conversation with him in the small pickup truck in his mind.

A conjecture arose in the young man's heart: the Dream Ghost's submissive tone was directed at him.

So, could it be that something was wrong not only with Tan Wenbin and Yin Meng, but that his own dream was also experiencing problems?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, the brain fog completed its coverage.

Li Chuiyuan's memory froze at a point a year and a half ago, when he hadn't yet returned to his hometown, Nantong. The young man's appearance had also changed; he was a bit shorter, his face a bit rounder, the sense of physical strength gained from consistent basic breathing exercises had vanished, and the imposing yet composed aura cultivated through his experiences was also erased.

Li Lan's embrace was before him. A joyful smile appeared on Li Chuiyuan's face, and he rushed into Li Lan's arms. Mother and son embraced.

"Mom, I'm so happy."

A kind mother, a filial son.

This was how the boy was at that time. He hadn't yet given up hope for his mother; although he knew she disliked him, even detested him, he still clung stubbornly to her sleeve.

After their embrace, they separated. Li Lan held the tickets in her right hand and took Li Chuiyuan's hand with her left. Mother and son walked into the amusement park. Although there was no ticket checker, Li Lan still went through the motions of handing over the tickets as if checking them.

Li Chuiyuan obediently stood by his mother, periodically displaying curiosity and longing for the amusement park. He would lean slightly inwards, trying his best not to obstruct other visitors' paths, even though there were absolutely no other visitors besides the two of them.

This was like Lin Shuyou's dream, where on his way running towards his family's burning temple, the closer he got to the temple, the fewer people he saw on the road. However, Lin Shuyou wouldn't have cared about such details in that situation, as he wasn't very observant.

Thus, dreams also make simplifications for things that don't need to appear, as long as it doesn't affect your sense of immersion. The same phenomenon also occurred in Li Chuiyuan's dream.

But unlike the simplification in Lin Shuyou's dream, even if the amusement park was packed with people at that moment, from the perspective of this mother and son, it made no difference whether they were there or not. The mother and son were acting anyway; acting for real people, acting for puppets... it was no different from acting for thin air.

At the park entrance, there was a cooler selling cold drinks.

Li Lan smiled as she looked down at Li Chuiyuan. Li Chuiyuan placed a finger to his lips, then unconsciously raised his eyelids, stealing a glance at his mother, and immediately shifted his gaze away once their eyes met.

"Heh heh."

Li Lan seemed to have "seen through" her son's little thoughts. She walked forward, asked for the price into thin air, and then chose an ice cream from the cooler. She paid, received change, and finally said, "Thank you."

Then, Li Lan tore open the wrapper. It was a cute panda-faced ice cream bar, which she handed to her son. Li Chuiyuan reached out and took it. He took a bite, then raised his arm, and Li Lan bent down and also took a bite.

Mother and son chatted and laughed, beginning to look for rides and attractions in the amusement park.

From an omniscient perspective, or rather, the Dream Ghost's perspective, even if it hadn't specifically arranged anything, this dream was already eerie enough. This mother and son performed without props with incredible meticulousness in the empty, deserted amusement park.

The ice cream was quickly finished. Li Chuiyuan threw the wrapper and the wooden stick into a trash can, then, holding out his hands, felt a bit awkward. Li Lan took a tissue from her pocket and carefully wiped her son's hands. After wiping them clean, she gently tapped his son's nose with her finger. Mother and son exchanged smiles.

Unfortunately, there were no outsiders. Otherwise, this mother and son would definitely have attracted many people's attention. A cute, well-behaved child, delicate as a porcelain doll, and a beautiful young mother with an exceptional demeanor — every action of theirs seemed to exemplify the ideal meaning of "mother and son."

This dream here should have been terrifying, just as Tan Wenbin, Rensheng, Lin Shuyou, and Yin Meng had experienced here. In fact, for Li Chuiyuan, this dream was also terrifying.

Because in fleeting moments invisible to outsiders, a hint of repulsion would flicker in Li Lan'